Meals I can make that won't be ruined if dp is late home

[bobbilyknob]

I get home at 6, dp gets home anywhere between 7-8. Atm we cook once he gets home so we end up eating quite late.

I'd be grateful for dinner ideas to make that I can just leave warm on the hob/in the oven that won't get all dried up or overly mushy if dp gets stuck on the m25!

Bolognaise sauce (he can do himself pasta to go with it when he gets home);
Chilli (again do his own rice);
Curry (again, do his own rice)

I have a similar problem. DP works 2pm - 10pm shift everyday. I made individual cottages pies this evening. I put his in the fridge. He'll whack it in the oven for 30 mins or so when he gets home later.

DD1 often works late so I make sure we have got noodles & stir fry veg available and then I defrost prawns for her when she is on her way home. Other options are jacket potatoes with various toppings and/or baked beans. Also, slow cooker is great for things like chicken chasseur, beuf bourgignon, chilli, bolognaise - all things that can be eaten with jacket pots, rice or pasta - quick to cook when you know an ETA.

Anything 'saucy' like a soup, tagine, curry, chilli, stew, pasta sauce etc.

Then get him to give you a 15 min warning so you can get the pasta or rice or potatoes or couscous or whatever on for when he gets in.

Something like chicken and veg fajita filling cooked then left in a v low oven covered in foil won't dry out.

Get a slow cooker with a warm setting once it's cooked.

Then everyone can dip in when convenient.

We have a pretty similar evening regieme to you OP. I tend to get everything 'as far as' and then do the last blast when he gets in. For example, I do a mean pad thai - everything is chopped and marinaded when I get in, laid out on the counter and chucked on as soon as he's through the door. Or toad in the hole - get the sausages cooked up and then take out the oven, make the batter but leave it in the fridge and then whack it in when you know he's in/nearby.

We've got the Jamie's 15 minute meals recipe book too, which is really good: www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CEEQFjAEahUKEwj2grrR_fvIAhWHjg8KHbTJAvc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FJamies-15-Minute-Meals-Jamie-Oliver%2Fdp%2F071815780X&usg=AFQjCNF1mNLuLfLzGF_qLlPDHAac13fhEw&sig2=Sd8qIdw8pqttuD48FkpW2A - admittedly most are closer to half an hour but still not bad!

The only thing I don't do is plain fried fish or meat - actually I did kedgeree last night with freshly cooked rice - the reheat was fine - I finished the leftovers for lunch. I make dinner every night and sometime dh makes it other times he microwaves his food. If it's a pie he eats it at room temp - he just wants fuel and something easy, his standards are well below mine - thankfully!

Curry's always best allowed to sit!

Spanish omelette - just leave it sitting in the pan once finished, and you can re-warm it in the oven for a bit before serving if you want, or just eat it at room temperature.

It's great because apart from the base of eggs and potatoes, you can throw in whatever other bits you have to use up (diced meat and/or veg). You don't really need a side-dish with it, but could always do a little salad or something to go with it if you wanted.

Risotto is another one that I think can handle being left on the hob for a while. It might go a tiny bit mushy upon re-heating but I don't think it matters too much.

Otherwise curries and pastas are the other things that spring to mind.

Thank you for all the ideas! I will start putting them to use next week. It would be nice just to have a little more free time in the evenings. Plus then he has to do all the washing up!